Bill Text: TX HCR113 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the dedication of the Battle of Velasco Memorial Monument.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-13 - Signed by the Governor [HCR113 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HCR113-Enrolled.html
| H.C.R. No. 113 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Serving as an important prelude to the Texas | ||
| Revolution, the Battle of Velasco was fought from June 25 through | ||
| 27, 1832, and the site of the engagement is being commemorated with | ||
| the dedication of a memorial monument on June 27, 2023; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The conflict was perhaps the first incidence of | ||
| bloodshed as resistance to Mexican rule intensified in Texas in the | ||
| 1830s; the battle took place when a group of Texans under the | ||
| command of Henry Smith and John Austin traveled to Brazoria to | ||
| secure a cannon to use against Mexican forces who had imprisoned | ||
| William Travis and others at Anahuac; when they tried to transport | ||
| the cannon down the Brazos River, they were opposed by a garrison of | ||
| Mexican soldiers led by Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea, commander of | ||
| Fort Velasco; and | ||
| WHEREAS, An estimated seven Texans and five Mexicans lost | ||
| their lives in the fighting, with dozens more wounded on both sides; | ||
| ultimately, the Texans forced Colonel Ugartechea to surrender on | ||
| June 29, after his troops exhausted their ammunition; and | ||
| WHEREAS, While records indicate that veterans of the Battle | ||
| of Velasco developed plans to erect a memorial for their fallen | ||
| comrades, no evidence for the existence of such a monument has ever | ||
| been found; recent imaging of the area has helped identify the exact | ||
| location of Fort Velasco, and renewed interest in the battle led to | ||
| a collaboration between the Old Fort Velasco Historical | ||
| Association, the Old Velasco/Surfside Beach Historical Committee, | ||
| the Village of Surfside Beach, Bryson Memorials, and area citizens; | ||
| working together, they have succeeded in their mission to establish | ||
| a long-overdue tribute to those who served and died in the battle; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Today, 191 years after the Battle of Velasco, the | ||
| unveiling of the monument provides an opportunity to reflect on a | ||
| pivotal moment in Texas history and on the courageous actions of | ||
| those who took up arms to further the cause of Texas independence; | ||
| now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby commemorate the dedication of the Battle of Velasco Memorial | ||
| Monument and extend sincere appreciation to all those who helped | ||
| bring this project to fruition. | ||
| Vasut | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 113 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 25, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 113 was adopted by the Senate on May | ||
| 26, 2023, by a viva-voce vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: __________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| __________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
